Wow, kinda sad the community is excited about a chain coffee house coming in at the loss of a locally owned business. Maybe if the property owner had been willing to work with the local business, we could have helped them through one of the worst economies. I think I'll get my coffee from a locally owned business to show my protest.

I love Peet's. However, Yellow Wood offered a unnique experience and it is missed. The local owners were actively engaged in the business. The atmosphere was wonderful. I miss seeing people sitting outside, enjoying their little corner of Alamo.

Remember to support your local businesses. It's what makes our communities special.

how exciting just what alamo needs another hi priced chain so every one can sit on the corner and say hey look at me i support someone that neither lives here or owns property here. but is it great we now have two starbucks perhaps another peets will open also..it's obvious we did not support local people like yellow wood but wow peete is that not wonderful there is no loyalty to local business in alamo

It is sad to see a chain move in as they do have the deeper pockets to weather financial downturns. Coffee shops are good barometers of the financial situation of our communities as this is disposable income, however Alamo is rather unique for this measuring stick.

Some folks here are missing the point. I supported Yellow Wood and wish it was still there. The problem was that Wells Fargo moved across the parking lot. The loss of foot traffic from the departure of Wells Fargo hurt Yellow Wood. A YW employee told me the foot traffic decreased by 1,500 a month! Another thing to consider is that Peet's will employ a few folks who may need a job. Good for them.

I am happy to see that they are coming, and hopefully will help revitalize Alamo Plaza. Yes, it is big business, not local. However, let's keep in mind that it was the big business (Starbucks) that helped the small coffee shops around the nation succeed. Before Starbucks, people drank coffee that came in a can, or ordered coffee from a diner that was barely tastier than warm water. Also, Peet's and Starbuck's both started out as small businesses.

There are a group of men who meet at Great Donuts in the Alamo Plaza for a quality cup of coffee and a donut. One member of the group has been recruiting new participants for open discussion of politics, economy, and local issues. The coffee is affordable, mild and flavorable and the preferred plain old-fashioned donuts are exceptional.

As the group grows, there is wondering about what Peet's will do differently to be as good as this favorite. It was easy to offer the answer for Peet's as volume take-out and rapid turn-over of tables that would discourage the Yellow Wood or Great Donuts gatherings.

It does raise a question that Peet's marketing raised for the Yellow Wood location over the past year. How can volume be developed at a location that has had a long term issue with groups that buy one cup of coffee and stay for an hour or more? How can we operate a business when the former customers expect a community center?

AS your Alamo readers' look forward to Peet's opening, do they see a return of the previous community center atmosphere? If so, do they expect Peet's to stay?

Hey Hal, Peet's doesn't "have to do anything differently" to compete with Great Donuts. Peet's established itself long ago with great coffee, etc. And that part about "how can we operate a business when the former customers expect a community center" is... huh? Yellow Wood was a coffee shop, just like Peet's. True, I miss Yellow Wood, but c'mon man, it's just a coffee shop. And... As I stated before, Peet's will put some folks to work. Stop trying to stir the pot and be happy.

Hey everyone and Hal you included. The post by the Julia impostor 2 hours ago was NOT posted by THE ORIGINAL Julia of Alamo.

Just wanted to clear that matter up. The coward that keeps using my name to gain attention is a fraud. I will be watching you, you coward and I will bring to the attention of all the readers of the Danville Express when you post using my good name.

There are three Julia's in our Alamo region neighborhoods that contribute to e-exchanges on various subjects. There is exceptional interests among Alamo region neighborhoods that Alamo Plaza doesn't repeat the low sales volume customers offered Yellow Wood as Peet's starts operations. One particular Julia, a contributor to news service research, is focused on the overall Alamo business district and the current restaurants that are struggling to continue to operate.

The subject of this exchange is Peet's and their store's future in Alamo. The concern is that each of our coffee stores in Alamo have issues with low sales volumes from groups and individuals that occupy tables for an hour or more. Peet's business plan is high-volume take-out and rapid turnover in table service and they have taken measures at other stores to prevent community center results. News service researchers have discovered that Peet's has removed large tables from outside seating to discourage groups from gathering. They employ seating that is not comfortable for long-term occupancy. They maximize counter take-out service areas to enhance turnover volume and minimze in-store table service.

Thus, Alamo readers' focus is what will customers do to retain Peet's as part of the Alamo Plaza and not make it another community center?

All the Julias posting are, in my opinion, simply the further disturbed rantings of the same person, whom I will not mention here as we all know who it is. Note there is always a "Julia" posting within minutes of the other gentleman's posts. Evidence, I think, of the many voices of whirling muckraking echoing between this guy's ears. I sincerely hope he gets help of some sort.

Posted by Ralph N. Shirlet
a resident of another community
on Jul 15, 2011 at 7:12 am

Dear Julia,

It is quite nice to be formally introduced but it does leave a question, "Who am I?" You see, the question is created by who others think I am and as I read the description I do not recognize myself.

I certainly tried to solve this dilemma by going to the new Peet's sign in Alamo Plaza, called information on my mobile phone, and had myself paged. When I didn't respond I became quite sure that I must be someone else. I only hope, that like the Peet's sign, that I am "coming soon."

Posted by Ralph N. Shirlet
a resident of another community
on Jul 15, 2011 at 4:41 pm

Dear Julie,

Finally is so final and we have not seen our denouement. Is it finally we have a Peet's and we must see how that plays out? Or is it final that nothing is final as we finally admit it?

We need Alamo Ron to step in and sort all this out without finality.

What is most important is your willingness to comment and I applaud you. Thank you and very best wishes.

Now, let's ask the editor if she would like to jump in here and bring clarity to the actual reality that Peet's, under certain contractual conditions, will be a coffee store in Alamo. Do we understand our obligations as customers to retain Peet's in Alamo Plaza?

Oh, and by the way, I went to Peet's in Danville on my walk and asked for a great cup of black coffee. Once again, I just could not drink what they offered, tipped the great staff, and threw the coffee away.

It took humor and your reader's response to get to the core of this exchange. The current contract with Peet's has defenses against the history of the site as a community center. Now, as a journalist, you are invited to go discover this specification that could make Peet's a short-term tenant at a cost to the Alamo Plaza investors.

Does that focus your journalism? Does Alamo's former Yellow Wood customers understand the change?

Oh, come on mr. post with the name removed (Hal perhaps?). This article is a simple story about a coffee shop going into Alamo Plaza. Peet's is NOT a community center, man. Tell ya what, why don't you make that place where you get your coffee and donuts a community center instead? Problem solved.

I do miss Yellow Wood, but am glad to see that Peet's will be replacing it. I have been a customer of Peet's since I was a little kid and my brother dragged me to the one in Berkeley. I am just sorry that it is now owned by Starbucks (if that information is actually correct). At least something lame isn't going into that space, like a yarn store or a jewelry store, right?

Posted by Andy
a resident of another community
on Jul 19, 2011 at 12:16 am

It seems to me Alamo needs a nice little park that the folks can meet and relax for a few hours and not be concerned with taking up space. Maybe while renovations are being made the landlord could extend the sidewalk into a nice patio that could be open to all!

Don't miss out on the discussion!Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.

Email:

Post a comment

Posting an item on Town Square is simple and requires no registration. Just complete this form and hit "submit" and your topic will appear online.
Please be respectful and truthful in your postings so Town Square will continue to be a thoughtful gathering place for sharing community information
and opinion. All postings are subject to our TERMS OF USE, and may be deleted if deemed inappropriate by our staff.

We prefer that you use your real name, but you may use any "member" name you wish.

Name:*

Select your neighborhood or school community:*

Comment:*

Verification code:* Enter the verification code exactly as shown, using capital and lowercase letters, in the multi-colored box.